It’s Time To Redefine What Success Means

FinancesHealth

Nov 23

What is the real meaning of success?

Ask one hundred people this question and you’ll get one hundred different answers. Each of us has our own personal attachment to how we define success. But all too often, there is a theme of what you hear people say, and it’s connected to this idea of getting more.

When I have another degree.

When I get a better house.

When I drive a better car.

When I get more money.

I’ve had all of these thoughts. And if you measure success based on getting more things, then yes I’ve been successful in each of these areas. However, if you redefine success then none of this stuff makes the cut. So where do we start? What is the real meaning of success?

Success Is Knowing Who You Are

Our fast-paced world will have us thinking who we are is only defined by what we do at work or what we post on social media. But our lives are so much richer than that. Sure, you can live working to attain the kind of success the world has defined for you, but life is so much sweeter when you define it for yourself. And that starts with one simple task: getting to know yourself. What are your values? What are your beliefs? What excites you?

When I decided to leave the United States and move to Mexico for my life reset year, I chose Merida, MX because it’s a place where I can block out all the noise. This allows me to reevaluate my own answers to the questions above. When you grind and work all day, spend too much time caring for others instead of yourself, or try to keep up with how to look like you’ve got it all together, there isn’t much time left over to just exist. To just sit and think clearly about who you are and whether or not who you say you are aligns with what you’re doing in your life right now. It also helps you get more clear on the difference between you wanting something because you actually want it versus being told all your life you should want it. If you need a resource to help you figure out your values, take this Values Profile assessment from Psychology Today.

Success Is Living A Meaningful Life

In my life, I feel the most joy when I’m creating things that help and bring people together. I know one of my values is community engagement, and I’ve seen the impact when I’m not connecting with people on a regular basis. I feel more drained, a bit more sad, and life feels boring. We all have different ideas for what makes life meaningful, but we know it when we feel it. Very often it’s rooted in doing something that has a purpose greater than yourself. It stretches beyond the bounds of self-gratification. Success is not about striving, it’s about service. And it doesn’t require you to sacrifice your healthy boundaries or give an exorbitant amount of time. You just have to be intentional. Think more deeply about how you spend your time. The meaningful life you’re looking for is directly connected to your actions.

Give Yourself Grace

When we compare our timeline for where we thought we’d be at this point in life to where we actually are, we doom ourselves to misery. Society makes you feel like it’s impossible to slow down, but it is very possible. And it’s necessary. Make time to pause and reflect so you can realize how much you’ve already done and what you’ve already overcome. From this perspective you’ll start to see that you’ve already succeeded. Everything else is just icing on the cake.

But First, Peace

If you allow society, your family, friends, social media, colleagues or anything else outside of yourself be your measuring stick for how you define success, you’ll miss out on of of God’s greatest creations: peace. The peace of knowing everything works together for your good. The peace of knowing you’re worthy and don’t have to do a single thing to be loved because you’re already loved. The peace that comes from being totally in turn with who you are and whose you are. No amount of worldy success beat that.

Remember, You’re Always Becoming

Once you get clear on who you are and really dive into doing the work of focusing on YOU, you’ll start to realize the journey to know thyself is life-long. Each person we enounter and each new experience reveals something else about our character and our needs. Auntie Michelle Obama’s story of becoming is a good reminder to us all that no matter how high up you go, you’ve still got to face the struggle within: